Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-03-19
We left the

ola village anu settieu iu Dahotn-
But Maud was delicate little crea-
ture, and when two years rolled
away the snow lay in white STROUD
on her grave. 1t almost broke my
heart, mister, when she placed her
little wasted hand in mine and asked
me to meet her in Heaven. My life
was lonely without her, and / sold
the little home / had made for us
and commenced my wanderings.
Forty years-dark, cherries years
have gone by since laid my Maud
in that lone grave in distant Dakota,
and all these years have been a
beggar, with no loving friends to sym
pathize with me, so lonely and un-
happy'--a tear stole down the old
mans cheek.
The morning | was hurt was
walking up the track. did not
look at the steel rails stretching
away, like my Indebtedness, with
cut an end. My thoughts were
wandering far off, / was thinking
of my old home in the sunny land
of my boyhood. determined to go
back to it again. / could see the
woods that lined the cotton fields
the lawn and its beautiful trees and
flowers. My brothers and sisters
all seemed to be around me, and
father--cold, cruel father--was there,
too. Ny heart grew bitter as | saw
his face. Curses came to my lips.
But they were unuttered, for another
face fitted across my memory. Moth
er was there, too. Then wondered
if she still lived if she ever thought
of her once petted boy, now an old,
ragged beggar; and my heart al
most burst within my bosom. | had
never heard from her. But, oh,
stranger, often when my only bed
was a hard board, and the stars my
only light and company, that tend
err, kind face has comforted me and
| have talked with her in my dreams.
As 1 walked along the track the
world was lost to me. | slipped my
hand in the inside pocket of my old
coat and drew forth the picture of
my mother. That picture had made
an honest beggar of me. 1t had
melted my heart time and again in
to sadness, and | kept it as gift
from Heaven. 1 was looking at my
mothers picture. | saw the same
pitiful eyes / loved to lookint when
child, as she rocked me to sleep on
her bosom. The pretty little mouth
so much like Maud's-was as nat
ural as when it first pressed my in
FAINT lips. The more l looked at the
picture the more my heart ached.
Then my thoughts reverted to that
lone western grave, and to the dear
little wife sleeping there. Stranger,
I was so wretched that / just cried
out: MY God, take me to herP
WAS it an answer to my prayer!
/ know not; but suddenly there
came q confused rushing and rum
bling, a sharp pain-and the iron
wheels had rushed over me and l
lay unconscious beside the track.
The rest has been blank. But
last night my mother came to me in
the form of an angel, and with her
came Maud. They beckored to me,
and when | stretched forth my arms
they vanished and ] lay here all
alone, But Pm dying now, stranger.
I'm going home.
His head slowly sank back upon
the pillow; his eyes half closed his
face grew pale and ashy. 1t was a
sudden change for the worse, and
those who watched his wasting
breath and glazing eyes knew that
death was silently claiming another
victim.
Suddenly he started up. Mother
have you no words of love for me I?
Call Maud! Father, forgive your
wandering boy-I have comeback
home-to-d-p